FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 04/01 - CAMBODIA (21 March)
During the 2000 wet season, the country was affected by one of the worst floods in recent history, resulting in large scale destruction of crops, principally rice, infrastructure, property and lines of communication. An estimated 3 million people were affected, half a million displaced from homes and almost four hundred died.
An assessment of the food supply situation in the aftermath of the floods by an FAO/WFP mission found that the floods reduced overall wet season rice production on some 400 000 hectares. Notwithstanding the loss due to floods, however, rainfall was generally above average, as a result of which the overall season was favourable and yields were above 1999, which was a bumper year. Harvesting of wet season and flood recession rice has been completed. Latest estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture of 2000 wet season paddy production is 3.2 million tonnes, around 100 000 tonnes lower than official estimates for wet season output in 1999. Dry season production is forecast at 800 000 tonnes, bringing overall production for 2000/01 to around 4 million tonnes.
Despite a satisfactory rice supply/demand situation from a national perspective, last year's floods made a large number of people, who are normally on the borderline of subsistence and food insecurity, more vulnerable to food shortages. In general, there are three broad categories of �food insecure� people in the country. The largest group currently are the chronically food insecure, comprising approximately 2 million people. The second group are the �vulnerable groups� (handicapped, disease victims, orphans, etc.), which accounts for a further 500-600 000 people. The third group are the �transitory food insecure�, due to factors such as fires, floods, and droughts, and would normally account for some 50 000 people. This year, however, due to the exceptional flooding, the number classified as transient food insecure is estimated at 3 million people. Of these, vulnerability analysis indicates that some 500 000 people would be classified as the most food insecure. Given the magnitude of the problem, this group could become chronically food insecure, if they have to resort to extreme coping strategies such as sale of land, incurring high interest debt, etc, to meet the household food deficit resulting from flood damage. However, if targeted food assistance is provided, almost all this group can be expected to recover by the next harvest. To cover the food needs of the half a million people who are most at risk, the mission advocates additional food assistance for four months. Part of the requirement (one and half months) will be met through a current Emergency Operation (EMOP 6296.00), whilst an additional 16 000 tonnes will be required to meet the remainder of food needs.
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